Showing posts with label planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label planning. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Party Tips: Deciding Between Disposable Tableware and Household Tableware

As far as party planning goes, the tableware issue always pops up, shall we use the disposable tableware or not? This issue appears particularly in planning baby showers wherein getting the green light from the future mom to use disposable baby shower tableware is crucial.

Some people are okay with using disposable utensils during a party. On the other end of the spectrum, you have people who are opposed to using plastic spoons, forks and knives. To help you decide, here are some things to consider.

Pros of Disposable Tableware
First pro to consider is the cleaning time. Using disposable tableware during the party cuts your clean-up time considerably once the celebration is done. Your choice of plastic tableware could be plain or fancy, but once everyone has left it’s the person in charge of the cleaning who will be stuck with the tedious job of tidying up the place and make sure all traces of the party are gone. With your choice of plastic tableware, there is no need for washing as these can go the recycling bin right away.

Second thing to take into account is the party theme. Plastic tableware comes in a plethora of colors some of which are sure to fit your chosen theme perfectly like Disney’s Little Mermaid which calls for some funky green, blue, yellow and red cutlery that only the disposable plastic kind can deliver.

And thirdly, disposable tableware is inexpensive.

Cons of Disposable Tableware
Number one on this list is the environmental concerns some folks may have, especially as people become more environmentally aware. If your guests are environmentally conscious people, then using regular dishes might be a good idea to consider.

Next point is some of these cheap utensils are not too sturdy. Sometimes the plastic prongs on forks can break off into the food and if people are not careful, then these parts can be ingested. Also, it is sometimes harder to use plastic utensils than silverware to eat with.

Ultimately, whether you use disposable tableware or not is up to you. If the thought of cleaning up afterwards is stressing you, then by all means go ahead with the disposables. For smaller parties, regular dishes will do just fine.

If children are present, an adult can be asked to keep an eye of the little ones who aren’t quite used to feeding themselves yet to make sure they don’t break their plastic forks and spoons in their food. Also, remind the older children to be careful lest they become too excited and start running around with plastic forks and knives.

What ever your party plans, don’t dwell too much on the tableware issue as the constant worrying might dampen your mood. Talk to the other people that are planning the party with you and decide on which is the best choice for your party.

Budget Conscious Decorating Ideas for a Baby Shower

When it comes to choosing baby shower decorations, it all comes down to how much money you have and are willing to spend. The organizers need to agree on a price range so that they can each start coming up with the cash to be pooled until they reached the agreed-upon amount. The details of the amount limit can be discussed among the organizers. How the baby shower turns out comes down to the organizers’ budget.

The Penniless Budget!
Cease your panicking, there’s a way to this. You might not have the big bucks to spend for decorations but you may still have your party and still enjoy yourself. This means a lot of creativity and economizing on your part. Use decorations that you already have around you whether it’s at your house or at your other chosen venue. Why, even the gifts and food people bring can be used as decorations. Consider asking people to bring unwrapped gifts if they are to be used as decoration anyway. If they do insist on wrapping said gifts, request them to wrap them as festively as they can manage. They’re sure to brighten up the room when placed on tables as centerpieces.

A Small Budget
When the organizers are able set aside a small amount for the budget, then go all out and buy balloons, candles or colorful disposable tableware. Gone are the days of boring paper plates and equally as boring clear plastic cutlery. Today’s paper plates have colorful prints - spoons and forks come in every color of the rainbow and even glasses and cups are brightly colored and come in some really fun shapes. Even disposable paper napkins come with cartoon characters printed on them. Also, bring in some of your smaller flowering shrubs from the garden. Balloons are cheap and can either float or stay on the floor. Sprinkle in some confetti and string some ribbons made of crepe paper to add an extra kick.

The Rockstar Budget!
This is for people who don’t have a limited budget and just want to throw a great party. Why not hire a decorator and or event coordinator to do all the work. You can leave it up to the professionals to decorate it anyway the host or mom-to-be wants it. Remember though, it is still wise to keep an eye on the event planner just so you get the results that you want and no surprises.

Wherever you fall among the three categories, always remember that the point of your party is to have fun. You don’t need megabucks to enjoy a party and not spending a ton on decorations is okay as long as they are nice looking and tastefully done.

How to Find Supplies and Decorations for a Baby Shower

Baby showers are a great way to celebrate the coming birth of a new baby. Gathering together to surprise the about-to-be mommy will involve all the planning and the decision making on what to serve, how to decorate and more. People who have never thrown a baby shower before may not know where to start looking for all the necessary baby shower supplies.

Supplies needed for a baby shower are very easy to find if one were to know where to look for them. Party planners already have a directory full of names and numbers of suppliers to make their lives easier. Most of these suppliers have websites that can be easily found online. Ordering and paying online is easy to do and the delivery can be done within a matter of days, some as soon as overnight.

The invitations are the easiest. They can be ordered from the printers and they could also be bought off the rack. There are also those who can make a custom made invitation just for the baby shower party. Remember though, when choosing custom made ones that some places will have minimum orders. If you only need a few, then it might be economical to print them yourself or use a local print shop.

For party souvenirs, again online shops are the easiest places to go to. There are literally thousands of these e-supply stores and they operate 24/7 so even going through them in the middle of the night or the wee hours of the morning is not an issue. Again, ordering, paying and delivery are easy. Talk to the mother to be and show her the choices that had been narrowed down for her. Let her have the final say on the souvenir and order ASAP so there would be no question of delays.

The local bakery is the best choice for a cake to order, but then again there are also online bakers which can have the cake delivered unscathed and in edible condition. There are really some fantastic choices out there so it is worth taking a look around. However, it is still safest to order from the local bakeshop since there is no risk of the cake being damaged in transit or arriving late due to shipping issues. Also, there is always the choice of making one yourself for the party.

Decorations for the party will greatly depend on the theme and the budget. There are some themes which are cheap and then there are others which can be very expensive. Choose items that are inexpensive like colored plastic and paper tableware. Disposable tableware is easy to clean up as well. Other baby shower decorations include streamers, balloons, and a diaper cake or some other baby shower centerpiece.

The food can be catered, homemade or pot luck. The choice really depends on the planners and how many people are invited. If there are too many people coming in from all over the place, catering would be the simplest solution.

Finding supplies needed for a baby shower party is easy, if you know where to look for them. You might even enjoy searching for these and browsing through the many ideas for hosting a baby shower party.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Ideas for Unique One of a Kind Favors for Baby Showers

For parents who have been waiting a long time to have a baby, having a baby shower planned for them will make them happier. Getting together with friends, family, and loved ones can be a time of re-bonding and acknowledgement for the couple at this special point in their lives.

There are times when the friends either give a group gift or simply bring in individual gifts for the baby. The excitement of opening up the gifts in front of the friends and the delight of the new parents-to-be is a time for taking more pictures and having great fun.

For the one planning for the party favors this can take a lot of time to think and plan on. However, one idea for unique baby shower favors is to add a unique item, personally chosen for each guest that attends the shower. This is especially possible if there are only a few close friends are invited.

First of all, prepare something that can be commonly given to all the girls. Prepare the usual items like bath gels, bath salts, candy and whatever else. And then add something totally unique in the loot by placing something that will be special to that one person who gets it.

If you have a friend who likes to garden or simply adores flowers and is known for her green thumb, include in the bag or box several packs of seeds of her favorite flowers and plants. Imagine when after she sows the seeds and they start growing and blooming – what a delight to see that the gift gave her such pleasure. Seeing her flowers bloom will remind her of the day of the baby shower.

If you have a friend who likes to sew stuff, then consider including a quilting kit or design. Quilters are known for their fanaticism with fabric and getting an unusual fabric makes their artistic mind open to all sorts of possibilities. She will forever remember where that material came from when looking at her finished quilt.

How about adding a recipe book for someone who really loves to cook? It doesn’t have to be something expensive. Get something that has great pictures in them that it is good enough to be placed on the coffee table for her to flip through.

What about adding a pack of melting chocolate that the baker friend loves to use for her chocolate creations? She can always invite the gang over to sample her latest creation and everyone can laugh about the inspiration from the loot bag of party favors.

How about that friend who likes pasta? Why not send her off with a recipe, some fresh Italian noodles and parmesan cheese? She can mix up her favorite pasta dish for herself alone or for the group.

Coming up with something unique for a friend is easily done if one knows who the friend really is. Any party favor can be unique and much appreciated if people get something unique for themselves.

Friday, October 15, 2010

How Couples Can Get Through the Stress of Wedding Preparation

A wedding can be intimidating when it comes to the preparation. With all the details that has to be prepared, the cost it entails and the pressure in coming up with a perfect wedding, couples are faced with so many challenges that it may be difficult to handle at times. Some couples become distant, while the worst for some is that they give in to the stress and pressure and they are left with no solution but rather, another problem that they have to face. To help couples go through the entire wedding preparation smoothly, here are some helpful tips:

- Schedule activities – So that you will be organized, get a wedding checklist and agree on the timeline. If there are some things that the two of you have to do together, work on a common schedule so that you both will be available and can juggle both preparation time and work time. You do not want to have to worry about taking a leave from work just because you did not discuss your preparation schedule. Make sure to include time for things like wedding invitations, picking out unique wedding favors, hiring caterers and performers, and securing the venue for the wedding.

- Communicate – This can be the perfect ground to practice good communication. You probably communicate well with each other and this is one of the things that led you to this point of getting married. Be sure to discuss things in detail with each other, especially the things that are important. Discussing each other’s ideas can lead to an even better wedding – you can have a personalized wedding by having a unique theme, great music and even up to personalized wedding favors.

- Make it fun! Remember that you are planning for a celebration, not a military attack. Make it fun, keep it light, and do not be overly serious about everything. While there are decisions and cost that have to be considered, keep the moments light and do not try to stress out or fuss over little details.

- Budget everything – Before you start doing the legwork, sit down and do consider everything and have a contingency amount for unexpected expenses. If you leave out even a single detail, it can affect your schedule and your budget, thus creating the stress together with it.

Wedding preparation involves a lot of work and this can be the best time to have teamwork between the two of you! An event as big and special as this need not be solely dependent on one person, but make this is your pet project and you will both indeed be satisfied with the outcome.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Is Your Wedding Budget Limited? Check Out These Tips!

Married people like to describe their wedding as the best day of their lives. The several months that one needs for planning, however, are usually overwhelming and loaded with difficult choices. Organizing a wedding is difficult in the best of circumstances, but when the budget becomes a problem, it can be something to turn your hair grey. If that is something you have to deal with, it is important to keep in mind that the value of your big day will be influenced less by the amount you spend than by the things on which you spend it.

Spend On What Truly Means Something To You
From an outsider’s point of view, a wedding bill is covered with silly expenses, which, to them, weren’t important for the party’s success. Allot a little time to debate exactly what is a must-have for you and your future spouse. For some it may be a specific backdrop and a DJ, for others it has more to do with the number of the head count and the buffet.

The season can also be a factor: summer and spring are usually peak season for pledging vows, so if the month isn’t that important to you, an unseasonal wedding may afford you huge savings. What is important is that you need to know how much your non-negotiable fixtures will cost you so you can restrict expenses on the rest.

Negotiate – Improve Your Bargaining Position
Tying the knot is usually thought of as a once in a lifetime celebration and as a future bride or groom you are surely prepared to do whatever it takes to make sure everything is just right. Your wedding-geared businesses are well aware of that, and that could well be one of the explanations why up-charges are generally so high in that sector.

What it often means is that you have a bit of room for rate reductions, especially if you make it clear you will choose between several competing offers. Timing is therefore crucial: the sooner you approach your vendors, the better your chances at getting the best rates will be, whether it is from one or the other vendor.

Do It Yourself, But Enlist Volunteers
Your wedding is your night, and it could turn into the moment when you have the best spot to ask for your friends’ and family’s help. You’ll be surprised how invaluable your kin’s talents can be: center pieces, bouquets, desserts, beverages, sound system and taking pictures are facets that can be handled by able hands in your inner circle.

Photography certainly is an item that can generate significant savings. In our time, it is not unusual for a lot of the invited revelers to see to all the pictures for the album. A wide array of people (to include very talented hobbyists) will be clicking away at your wedding, and if you are not searching for anything specific (like a professionally-shot photo book), it may be the right thing for you. If you want a professional, you might also want to consider hiring photography students because they are often very good and who need to grow their portfolio.

Even if you have no limit on money, it’s highly unlikely that your long-awaited moment will be precisely as you dreamed it . But even if you have a restricted budget, it doesn’t have to be anything less than perfect.

A professional writer on matters bridal and wedding, Criss White has authored many articles. For further wedding planning ideas and other wedding articles, visit Wedding Ideas Etc.


Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Wedding Reception Locations that are Uncommon

Wedding receptions are probably the occasion demanding the most effort spent on planning and organization. You can find myriad ways to make certain it’ll be unforgettable; themes are a common option to give your wonderful occasion its distinct atmosphere. You can even take it a step further and host the gathering in a more uncommon setting. If you haven’t yet decided on a specific hotel or the venue of your dreams, take advantage of the possibility to try something more uncommon.

On A Boat
In recent years, receptions on the water have become easier to find and less costly. You can find many options, to suit your area, your dollar limit and how you envision your reception. Small cruise boats can be hired for the occasion and either go for a ride or just stay in the harbor.

Cruise vessels are used to planning parties in general and often weddings in particular: The majority of them include a bar, a kitchen and a space for dancing. River cruises are wonderfully well-suited for a wedding event because they float on predictably calm waters. Sometimes planning can be more of a concern when the venue is not stationary, but with smart organization, an on-the-water reception will offer a long-remembered experience for all of your wedding guests.

In a Vineyard
Holding a wedding festivities in a vineyard has the double advantage of offering a more romantic setting and providing your revelers with an extraordinary outing possibility. There are many vineyards in many states, and generally they’ll be equipped with the staff and all things one can imagine for a wedding reception. A vineyard is typically organized a bit like a homestead with a big and often cozy house located by a large garden.

The backdrop and the old-school winery décor will intrigue the guests and make for great photography. Additionally, choices of home-grown wine and fruits and veggies grown in the area for the meal is one of the features people will delight in. A wedding gathering held at a vineyard is unusual enough to be memorable but is also a good option for a place that will already have much of the infrastructure needed.

On The Beach
A beach wedding is – of course – not for everyone; you naturally should be near a beach , especially a beach where it is possible to organize a reception. Another thing to consider is the possibility of rain; a back-up indoor location like a readily available hall is a definite must. Of course, holding your wedding reception by a body of water is one of the more exciting and dreamy ways to start your marriage. Sunset, a good meal, mixed drinks, romantic dancing; it all feels more special when it takes place on a beach. The details shouldn’t be a huge issue as you will probably have to engage a one-stop-shop institution (generally a local caterer) that will handle all the preparational issues.

A couple’s wedding day is always special, and many brides and grooms decide on more common venues for their receptions. But if you elect to have yours in a different location, memories are sure to last even longer.


A freelance writer on all things baby shower, bridal shower, and family, Criss White has written lots of articles. For more educational articles and wedding reception ideas, visit Wedding Ideas Etc.

Wedding Party Planning: Excellent Things to do For A Wedding Reception

If you’ve determined the place, the catering service, the DJ (or the wedding band) and delivered your invites, you might think you are done with your planning: not really… Your wedding night is a thoroughly coordinated event that has to keep visitors happy at all times. Not to worry though, one can find adequate options out there to guarantee everyone has a blast.

The Essentials

Convention is a huge component of what makes a wedding party: several activities tend to be as necessary as the exchange of the vows to some people, and have undoubtedly come to be anticipated by numerous guests. The walking down the aisle, the first slice of cake, the bouquet, the garter and the dance floor make up a pretty substantial protocol but can be used as a chance for originality.

There usually are numerous elements you can play with to make those rituals truly yours: the selection of music is paramount and is best left to the new bride and groom for them to instill their very own touch. A lot of couples are also very innovative in particular with the first dance (a nicely-choreographed one usually makes quite an impression). Several prefer to cut those customs a little shorter so as to allow for other things to do as well.

Fun Photography Session

Whether you choose to employ a professional photographer or not, a lot of time (in particular before the supper commences) is allocated to the wedding photos. Naturally you’ll want to have nice-looking professional images of the couple and their relatives. But taking the time for a more exciting and daring photo session can be extremely rewarding a few years down the line.

Entertainer

Using a professional for entertainment generally means that you will use a wedding band. Why not take it a step further and speak to an entertainer? It might be a wonderful idea if he is part of the newlyweds' friend circle.

If you are somewhat uncertain about the impression an entertainer would have on the attendees, you can go the risk-free route and get a magician or a face painter for the youngsters. It has the additional benefit of keeping them happy and busy a bit longer while their parents relax. A small bedroom with a DVD player and video gaming is likewise most effective to focus children’s interest during the prolonged supper.

Games

Games are a tricky one, as their success will be based mainly on the type of crowd you are working with. Some would prefer to sit back and enjoy a good meal and listen to speeches. Other folks just can’t wait for the eating to be over so they might show their skills on the dance floor. But a shockingly big number of revelers are generally up for nearly anything.

Obviously games should be appropriate for suitable wedding protocol and must therefore be diligently prepared. One model is a guessing game concerning the happy couple where guests at individual tables play against one another. Another one challenges the guests to a riddle that will reveal which table they're sitting at. In either case, chances are that people will like being involved that way and it will merely amplify their fun.


A professional author on all things relationship, bridal, and marriage, Criss White has composed an abundance of articles. For additional wedding articles and tips for reception food, visit Wedding Ideas Etc.